First pow turns of 2005/06 - Highwood Pass TR 9/11/05

Well, first pow in North America, anyways.

Headed out today to take advantage of an early season storm that had been pounding the Canadian Rockies since Friday. Tried to get up to Fortress ski hill, but couldn't make it up the road with front-wheel drive and chains. So drove another half hour on the nicely plowed road to Highwood Pass, elevation 7,200.

It looked promising even at the parking lot.

Ran into a group of seven snowboarders and joined up with them to play safe. No skiers out today, just the single plankers.

Post holing up. About three feet of heavy pow, so not too tough hiking.

Amazing coverage. Not a rock was hit all day. Better than mid-season at the resorts last winter.

Sweet turns every which way you pointed it.

Some rather fine tree lines for September.

So what do young snowboarders do when surrounded by fields of untracked pow? Build a booter!

I have no idea what this move is called for I am a hucking jong. But I do like the looks of that slope in the distance.

Back to the pow.

By 2:30 pm I was knackered and headed down to the highway. By then the snow lower down was turning to smoo from the sun.

In the parking lot some tourists had kindly erected a statue to mark the first awesome day of the new season.

Nice work Eldo especially with the ever handy camera. You know I joke that snowboarders do that sort of thing and there's the proof. Who cares what the move is called it doesn't have much to do with skiing powder.

Too bad you didn't hand the camera to the boarders for shots of you. Of course they might have stolen it then. (kidding)

Last edited by L7; 09-12-2005 at 10:34 PM.

It's not so much the model year, it's the high mileage or meterage to keep the youth of Canada happy

this is painful for me to watch.. working here in the valley for four days on and four days off,, and while working i can't go out and play... but thatnks for adding some stoke to the day!! i hav ebeen eyeing up all this snow since it stopped rainging this morning... drooool